A cross section of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation led by the minister Hon Kabineh Kallon, has on Friday made a conducted sightsee at the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) head office.
It should be noted that the SLCAA is one of the Government agencies that are under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, charged with the responsibility to provide oversight in the aviation industry in accordance with Civil Aviation Regulations, Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation-ICAO
Chairman of the Board of Directors SLCAA, Patrick Jaia Kaikai, on behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the SLCAA formally welcomed the Hon. Minister and his delegation.
Patrick Jaia Kaikai stated that on assuming office as the chairman of the Board of Directors of SLCAA, he has ensured that they work as a team to continue making SLCAA a strong and vibrant institution, whilst disclosing that the development plan has already taken off.
The Board Chairman also expressed that their mandate as Board of Directors was to provide policy guidance and ensure probity in the financial management of the Authority.
“We will continue making sure that SLCCA will stand the test of time and we will meet the demands of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other Aviation bodies both international and regional. We are happy to see you and your team here, this is an indication of your dream to see that the Ministry move forward with no agency left behind,” the Chairman stated.
The Permanent Secretary, Brima Munda Sowa, in his short statement, started by reflecting on the Ministry’s Performance Delivery Retreat organised in Bo last year.
“Our aim in the Transport Ministry is to transform the Aviation sector in Sierra Leone and we are calling on every one of you to join this train and support in any way you could to make this dream a reality. Government is now very much vigorous in monitoring our performance, and so I call on us all to put on that delivery cap,” the PS said.
In his address to the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the SLCAA, the Hon Minister expressed his admiration of the entire Administration and Management of the SLCAA.
“SLCAA is one of those Agencies under my supervision that is doing very well in making sure that the Transport Ministry delivers on its key mandates. Before 2018, SLCAA could not be heard anywhere in Sierra Leone, just a little over two years Mr. DG, you have transformed this Institution that has become more enviable,” the Minister said.
“Let me reveal also Mr. DG, that you have not only transformed this building that was an eyesore some two years back, but you have also built the capacity of your staff which is very much commendable. His Excellency the President has made it very clear that this is not the time to give excuses, and as a Ministry, our focus is to deliver on our key mandates,” he maintained.
The Hon. Minister, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation expressed, his sincere condolences to the SLCAA for the loss of its former employee, Joseph Sam Abokie, former Personnel Licensing Manager.
“Let me end by reminding you all that this is not the last visit. We will continue making an unannounced visit to all agencies under my Ministry,” the Minister concluded.
In his closing courtesy, the Director-General of SLCAA, Moses Tiffa Baio expressed thanks to the Minister for such a visit,
“This is a clear demonstration of strong political will on the part of the President Bio led administration in support for the development of the Aviation industry in Sierra Leone,” DG Baio said. DG Baio assured the Hon Minister that the SLCAA will remain to be one of the most dependable institutions under the watch of the Ministry of Transport and Aviation which the Ministry should rely on in terms of achieving the deliverables set in the performance contract signed with His Excellency the President.
DG Baio further informed the Minister on the certification of the Freetown International Airport (FNA) and the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) scheduled in November 2021
